Coronation Street’s Philip Lowrie, known for his iconic role as Dennis Tanner on the long-standing ITV soap, has died at the age of 88. The news broke after his publicist confirmed that the actor passed away last Friday.
“My client and very dear friend, Philip Lowrie, the beloved actor renowned for his role as Dennis Tanner on Coronation Street, passed away yesterday at 88,” said Mario Renzullo in a heartfelt statement to ITV News. “His death marks the end of an era for the world’s longest-running soap, where he became a cornerstone of its storytelling.”
Lowrie made his debut on Coronation Street in the inaugural episode in 1960, at the tender age of 24. He remained a fixture on the beloved soap until 1968, portraying Dennis Tanner, the on-screen son of Pat Phoenix’s character, Elsie Tanner.
He made a triumphant return to the cobbles in 2011, earning a Guinness World Record for the longest gap between TV appearances as the same character in the same show. “I’ve always been proud to have been a member of the original cast of Coronation Street,” Lowrie expressed at the time. “Now I’m doubly proud to be honoured in the Guinness World Records book.”
His final appearance as Dennis Tanner was in July 2014.
Beyond Corrie, Lowrie graced the West End stage in roles such as Major Metcalf in The Mousetrap and Klever in The Case of the Frightened Lady. His other TV credits include Doctors, Casualty and Andy Capp.
He also lent his voice to Fifteen to One on Channel 4, and portrayed Mr Lakin in the ITV series Home Fires in 2015.
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